With the 2018 high school football season beginning on Friday for the North State, most Redding-area teams have picked a starting quarterback.

The experience level varies. Some signal callers are about to begin their third year in the starting slot, while some are about to take their first varsity snaps under center.

Which ones should fans pay special attention to in 2018? After talking to coaches, looking at film and reviewing statistics from past years, here are the top five quarterbacks to watch this season.

1. Leslie Cummings, Enterprise

Leslie Cummings is the only Redding-area quarterback who has already started on his varsity team for two seasons. His career numbers far surpass any others in the area, as he enters his senior year with 28 touchdown passes and 2,957 passing yards for the Hornets varsity team. Additionally, the 6-foot-2, 173-pound signal caller is usually one of the fastest players on the field. He rushed for 453 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.

At a three-way scrimmage Friday at Foothill, Cummings’ speed was an obvious difference-maker as the senior weaved around and between tacklers on multiple long runs.

When Cummings hits his ceiling in a game, he can be pretty hard to stop. In October against Paradise, he threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

2. Jayden Gordon, Foothill

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Foothill quarterback Jayden Gordon and an assistant coach watch teams scrimmage. Football teams for Foothill, Shasta and Enterprise High gathered at Foothill on Friday for a three-way scrimmage. The field was split at the 50-yard line, and teams alternated offensive and defensive series.(Photo: Matt Brannon)

Jayden Gordon is one of the few returning quarterbacks in the area that started for his varsity team last year. Foothill went 6-6 alongside the junior’s arm in 2017, and the Cougars are hoping that Gordon can take the next step in his progression this season.

Last year, Gordon was a sufficient passer for Foothill, throwing for more than 900 yards. His best game was a 14-13 win over Enterprise in which he completed 79 percent of his passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. He also showed off an ability to run with the ball in 2017, racking up more rushing touchdowns (11) than passing touchdowns (6).

On the other hand, turnovers were an issue in 2017 as Foothill had five games with multiple interceptions. If Gordon can shrink that number, he should be in position for a solid senior season.

3. Brian Kilgore, Shasta High

Brian Kilgore didn’t see much action at quarterback in 2017. Under senior QB Ian Garcia, Shasta High ran the ball on about 84 percent of its offensive plays last season.

But make no mistake, Kilgore has big-game experience. He started at quarterback in multiple varsity games as a sophomore in 2016, throwing for 141 yards and two touchdowns against Red Bluff.

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Shasta High quarterback Brian Kilgore talks to a teammate. Football teams for Foothill, Shasta and Enterprise High gathered at Foothill on Friday for a three-way scrimmage. The field was split at the 50-yard line, and teams alternated offensive and defensive series.(Photo: Matt Brannon)

Overall, Shasta lost two especially effective offensive weapons to graduation in running backs Vinny Smith and Seth Park, who finished 2017 as the No. 1 and No. 2 rushers in the Northern Section. That offense will need to come from somewhere in 2018, and Kilgore, a 6-foot, 165-pound senior with a strong arm, could be the playmaker who fills the void.

4. Eli Wehbey, Red Bluff

In 2017, Red Bluff’s Marshal Brose was the most prolific passer in the Redding area, totaling 1,620 yards on the year. Now, the Spartans are looking to varsity newcomer Eli Wehbey to pick up the reigns of a potent spread offense.

Wehbey, a junior, spent last season leading Red Bluff’s junior varsity team to a 9-1 record. Film from his 2017 season shows Wehbey has the athleticism to roll out of the pocket and find space to scramble, while also keeping his eyes on receivers down the field. Running with the ball is something Red Bluff coach Orlyn Culp said he’ll expect out of Wehbey this year.

5. Vaipou Leota and Mike Sherrell, Anderson

After a strong 10-3 season, the Cubs lost a large chunk of starters to graduation. With Rodney Kincaid’s departure, filling the starting quarterback role is one of the biggest challenges heading into the team’s season opener Friday against Red Bluff. Fortunately for Anderson, coach Don Trotter said he has two talented players that are dead even in their competition for the starting role. Senior Mike Sherrell has an edge in experience, as he took a few snaps at QB for the varsity team last year. Meanwhile, senior Vaipou Leota helped lead Anderson’s junior varsity team to an 8-2 record in 2016, and showcased an ability to scramble and turn dead plays into gains on film.

Regardless of which one earns the starting job on the team’s shotgun offense, Anderson’s quarterback will be someone to keep an eye on in 2018.